Yam Ah Mee named elections Returning Officer

[jw5]

think even if our oppositions won the elections and form new govt, the battle against PAP has only just began. The latter still have many resources to prevent the new govt from ruling effectively.

we are like a party state, 党国一家. PAP is synonymous with Singapore.

There's no guarantee that the new governement formed by alternative parties will govern the country well and make lives better for ordinary Singaporeans.
As for whether the new ministers will continue to take the same level of salary, nobody knows, but my guess is that they will.
A strong opposition is exactly what Singapore needs, to monitor the government's actions and ensure that they are working in the best interests of the people, whether it's the pap or not.

 

[Sideswipe]

There's no guarantee that the new governement formed by alternative parties will govern the country well and make lives better for ordinary Singaporeans.
As for whether the new ministers will continue to take the same level of salary, nobody knows, but my guess is that they will.
A strong opposition is exactly what Singapore needs, to monitor the government's actions and ensure that they are working in the best interests of the people, whether it's the pap or not.

I personally prefer a change of govt, not a strong opposition presence in parliament with PAP in govt which most want. PAP are in power for too long, there are too many skeletons in their closet that we need a new ruling govt to investigate and expose their doings. Only executive hand can do this, not legislative.

and yes you're right - no guarantee that opposition parties govt will be better, Ah Bian is a great example of a politician built on broken promises, lies and deception.

 

[Papsmearer]

"The appointment was made by the Prime Minister......"
I couldn't help smirking when I read this line.

The Elections Department is part of the PMO, thatis why the announcement has to come from the prime minister's office.

 

[Papsmearer]

Mistake me not. This was reported in SPH papers. When somebody questioned PA about why it only appoints PAP MPs and PAP's potential candidates in opposition wards as its grassroot advisers, PA's official reply was that it has a "symbiotic relationship" with PAP.

NTUC is under SLF, Singapore Labour Foundation. SLF, if I am not wrong, has the government as its biggest shareholder. It is also considered as a "Statutory Board". In its website, it states "SLF is a statutory board of the Ministry of Manpower. It was formed in 1977 by virtue of an Act of Parliament under Chapter 302 of the Statutes of the Republic of Singapore. This Act is also referred to as the Singapore Labour Foundation Act. "

So you see, how can an institution under a Government Statutory Board publicly says that it has "symbiotic relationship" with a political party?

Goh Meng Seng

They can say it because the system of checks and balances in a truly democratic society has been eliminated. It is wholely the fault of Con You who wants to have absolute control. Its the fault of sinkies for letting it happen. In the past, Returning officers were in the civil service, but were chosen because they had no political affiliations. The civil servant would still be in his job whether the PAP won or lost, and he would have not be accused of any form of favouritism because he does not belong to any political party. That has changed now. Yam is obviously a card carrying PAP member.

The whole question of the Elections department has been explored before. People who know how it works, know what is going on. The majority are just inhaling opuim and are too lazy to care. By right, the Elections Department must be 100% independent and transparent, but in reality, its a slave of the PAP. Rhetorical Questions that should be asked:
- Why is the Elections department in the PMO?
- Why does the Elections department redraw and make up new GRCs and constituency without prior public input?
- Why does Elections department not reveal the thinking behind things like candidate fees, etc.
- Why does Elections department not allow international groups to monitor the elections since it obviously has a conflict?

 

[jw5]

I personally prefer a change of govt, not a strong opposition presence in parliament with PAP in govt which most want. PAP are in power for too long, there are too many skeletons in their closet that we need a new ruling govt to investigate and expose their doings. Only executive hand can do this, not legislative.

and yes you're right - no guarantee that opposition parties govt will be better, Ah Bian is a great example of a politician built on broken promises, lies and deception.

I'll be happy to have a change of government, with the pappies as the new "opposition".
And to have the pappies scrutinizing every action of the govenrment made up of alternative party members.
Perhaps a few of the pappies will even start coming to this forum.

 

[jw5]

The Elections Department is part of the PMO, thatis why the announcement has to come from the prime minister's office.

That's not why I smirked.

 

[Papsmearer]

Actually Liquigas isn't totally wrong. When the PAP loses power, they will have to give up the PA because the national prime minister is the default head under the (PAP's own) law. Because of the widespread apathy in PA, it would be the easiest for the opposition to take control, compared to the NTUC and the government itself. Look at the languishing YECs/CCs/RCs leadership. NTUC leadership is however stronger and because of their love-hate relation with PAP might actually unite them with PAP in face of a stronger opposition adversary.

I can tell you that the PAP well known for its kiasusim has already a blueprint as to what they want to do with the PA when the opposition comes to power. One such is to change the law to move its grassroots out of PA or ban party-inclined activism from PA. I have reasons to believe that the law will be changed upon the opposition capturing just 1/4 of the seats. It makes sense for the PAP to do the change as they would still have partial control over the PA, rather than keep the status quo and in the end the opposition uses PAP's own law to fill all PA positions with SDP/WP/RP/SDA/NSP members.

Goh, the PAP has already thought about this. That is why they formed the Mayoral system. Under the Mayor system, the 5 "districts" have taken over the grassroots function of the PA. Because the mayors are not elected but appointed, they have their own budgets for their districts and basically PA has given them money to run social programs that the PA used to do.By doing this, even if the PAP is voted out, they can still keep in contact with the populace thru these programs. U have to eliminate the Mayor/district system too.